Dekh Indian Circus

About the film

Dekh Indian Circus is an Indian film directed by Mangesh Hadawale. It provides an entertaining metaphor for rural India's struggle to access the supposed economic miracle of that South Asian nation. The film premiered at the 16th Busan Film Festival in the New Currents section, opening to positive review from critics and winning the Audience Choice award.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Tannishtha Chatterjee won the best actor and actress awards for this movie at the 12th annual New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF).

Plot

Kajro and Jethu are fulfilling the eternal Indian dream of educating their children Ghumroo and Panni. Kajro, the resilient mother, in the face of adversity inculcates great values in her children. Jethu as the mute patriarch suffers the day-to-day heartbreaks in silence.

Set in the present-day deserts of Rajasthan, the story line is about the daily trials and tribulations of the family and depicts the aspirations of rural India. Aspirations have arrived at every doorstep, but the means are far behind.

In the backdrop of state elections, a circus has come to a nearby town that may be Panni and Ghumroo's only escapade to a fantasy world without any heartbreak. A flag on the door could be the key to this escape. Would Jethu and Kajro find it easy to see a small dream of their children come true or would they themselves become puppets in the circus of life?

Music

The soundtrack of the film is composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, while the lyrics are penned by Prasoon Joshi. The score is done by Wayne Sharp.

Reception

The film received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the critics. Richard Kuipers of Variety praised it for "bringing the themes of inequality and class divisions together in the highly entertaining visit to the big top." Kirk Honeycutt in his review for The Hollywood Reporter, praised director Mangesh Hadawale for portraying third-world issues through a family comedy that contains a stinging satire of contemporary India and its rampant corruption.

Awards

Won- Best Actress - Tannishtha Chatterjee

Won- National Film Award for Best Children's Film

Won- National Film Award for Best Child Artist - Virendrasingh Rathore

Key details